The Presbyterian College men's basketball team shot almost 60% from the field, tied a season-high with 10 three-pointers, and surviving a late Lancer run, to win its record fourth Big South game in a row in a 74-67 win at Longwood Thursday evening in Farmville, Va. The five-game winning streak ties for the longest in Blue Hose Division I history. Cory Hightower led the team with 16 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.
 
Scoring the Game
It was all PC early as the Blue Hose opened up a 19-2 lead the first eight minutes of the game, helped in part to four three-pointers. Longwood chipped away over the next four minutes, which included a 9-0 run to cut the margin to just four, 17-21, 7:48 to go in the first.  Michael Isler's dunk at 7:13 ended the drought, putting PC back ahead 23-17. Longwood's Juan Munoz hit the team's first three of the night at 6:03 to make it a three-point game, but PC responded with a Ben Drake Layup and a JC Younger three-pointer to take the lead up to eight, 28-20, 5:12 on the clock. It ignited an 18-5 run, which included four three-pointers, to send the Blue Hose to the locker room leading by 17, 42-25.
 
PC began the second half much the same way it ended the first, outscoring the Lancers 16-6 in the first six-and-a-half minutes, including 12 straight, to take a 20-point lead, 51-31, 15:32 left.  A Jaylon Wilson jumper and Christian Wilson three pointer over the next minute ended the drought, cutting the PC lead to 36-58, 11:32 remaining.  It was the start of an 8-0 run to make it a 19-point game, 39-58, 10:12 left.  Five straight by Longwood made it a 16 point-game. PC came back with a layup and dunk to take the lead back up to 20.  A three-pointer by Jaylen Wilson at 3:33, trimmed the PC lead to 15, 54-69, a Jordan Cintron layup and free throw less than a minute later making it a 13-point contest, under three to play.  Trailing 59-74 with 1:28 to go, Longwood hit eight in a row, cutting the margin to just seven, but it would be too little too late as the Blue Hose survived at the end, 74-67.
 
Players of the Game
Cory Hightower led the Blue Hose in the first half with 10 points, four rebounds, and five assists, finishing the game with 16 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Sean Jenkins, who hit three three-pointers in the first 20 minutes, ended the game with 12 points, along with Michael Isler's 12 as well. Juan Munoz paced Longwood with 12 points, with Leslie Nkereuwem leading in rebounds with seven.
 
Stats of the Game
The Blue Hose were strong offensively in the first half, shooting 63.6%, while holding Longwood to 27.6%.  In the second half both teams shot more evenly with PC holding the 47.6%-40.7% advantage. Presbyterian finished with 55.8%, to Longwood's 33.9%. PC hit nine three-pointers in the first half, finishing with a season-high tying 10 for the game. Longwood hit six in the game.  The Lancers recorded 23 free throws, compared to 16 for the Blue Hose, and led in rebounds, 35-31.  Turnovers were close with PC recording three more, 15-12.
 
Notables
With a three-pointer at the 5:12 mark in the first half JC Younger became the PC Division I leader in three-pointers made with 215.
The five-game winning streak tied for the longest in PC Division I history.  The Blue Hose won five in a row early in the 2017-18 season.
PC's 4-0 conference record marks the best league start for the team in its DI history.
Sean Jenkins hit a career-high four three-pointers as part of his career-best 12 points
 
For the Record
PC improves to 7-10 overall and 4-0 in the big South, while Longwood drops to 6-12, 1-4.
 
Up Next
The Blue Hose return home for two straight with Radford Saturday, Jan. 18, at 4 p.m.  PC hosts Campbell Monday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m.  Both games will air live on ESPN+ and on the radio at WPCC.